Anchoring system for the installation of slabs on vertical and overhead surfaces



J. S. ZIBELL May 16, 1967 ANCHORING SYSTEM FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SLABSVERTICAL AND OVERHEAD SURFACES 4 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Dec. 27,

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INVENTOR JULES SCOTT ZIBELL ACES y 1967 J. 5. ZIBELL ANCHORING SYSTEMFOR THE INSTALLATION OF SLABS VERTICAL AND OVERHEAD SURF 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Original Filed Dec.

FIG. 7

FIG. 6

FIGIZ FIG. 8

INVENTOR. JULES SCOTT ZIBELL May 16, 1967 J. s. ZIBELL 3,319,983

ANCHORING SYSTEM FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SLABS ON VERTICAL AND OVERHEADSURFACES 27, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Dec.

FIG. IO

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INVEN TOR. JULES SCOTT ZIBELL May 16, 1967 J. s. ZIBELL 3,319,983

ANCHORING SYSTEM FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SLABS ON VERTICAL AND OVERHEADSURFACES Original Filed Dec. 27, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 DVVENTOR JUL ESSCOTT ZIBELL United States Patent ANCHORING SYSTEM FGR THE INSTALLATIONOF SLABS 0N VERTICAL AND OVERHEAD SURFACES Jules Scott Zibell, Tate,Ga., assignor to The Georgia Marble Company, Atlanta, Ga., a corporationof Georgia Original application Dec. 27, 1960, Set. No. 73,477, nowPatent No. 3,234,702, dated Feb. 15, 1966. Divided and this applicationAug. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 495,741

3 Claims. (Cl. 287-18935) This invention relates in general to theanchoring of wall forming materials to structural members and moreparticularly to anchoring systems for facing slabs for both interior andexterior construction, and is a division of my copending applicationSer. No. 78,477, filed Dec. 27, 1960, now Patent No. 3,234,702, grantedFeb. 15, 1966.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved anchoring systemfor facing materials wherein the anchoring points are easily aligned andplumbed so as to accurately establish the face of the finished wall.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anchoring system forfacing materials which provides continuous support therefor.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anchoring system forfacing materials which assures a positive weather seal at the joints ofthe facing material.

The invention is most advantageously used with slabs, for example,marble, having a kerf or groove formed in at least two peripheral edgesthereof. The invention features shaped metal struts having a generallyU-shaped configuration with the legs thereof being formed with inwardlyfacing flanges or re-entrant sections, said shaped metal struts beingsecured to structural members of the structure which is to be coveredwith the facing material. These struts are located at desired intervalsto provide repeating anchoring points. According to the invention, thefacing material is supported from these metal shaped struts by means ofanchor members, each of which includes a web portion which spaces thefacing material from the struts, a kerf inserted or engaging portionformed on the end of the Web and a strut engaging portion secured to thestrut. According to one embodiment, a bedding or base channel anchor andcap channel anchor are formed from an extruded U-shaped channel member.Preferably, one leg of the U-shaped member is made longer than the otherleg of the U-shaped member and this long leg is formed with alongitudinally extending groove which receives a recessed projectionformed on a clip element. The arrangement according to this embodimentis such that the outside surface of the U-shaped strut member and thesurface of the clip carrying the recessed rojection are coplanar. When abolting means for securing the clip to the strut member is applied, theU-shaped channel member is rigidly held in place.

According to a second embodiment, an H-shaped extruded channel member issecured to the strut member by means of a two part anchoring clip, oneof the clip parts having a hook formed on one end thereof for hookingover a portion of one of the flanges of the H- shaped channel memberwhile the other clip part has an extension which cooperates with thehook on said first clip part to substantially surround the flange of theH- shaped channel member abutting said strut member and secured togetherand to the strut by a cap screw. A tab formed on one of the clip partsfacilitates positioning of the two part clip assembly in the strutmember. The other flange of the I-I-shaped channel member has one-halfthereof received in the kerf of an adjacent slab. The arrangement issuch that the thickness of the web joining the two flanges of theH-shaped member spaces the two contiguous slabs a sufficient distanceapart so that a mortar joint may be formed between the two slabs. Inaddition, a positive weather seal at the joint is effected.

According to another embodiment, the anchoring element comprises arectangularly shaped clip member having oppositely disposed springfinger flanges receivable in the kerf formed in two contiguous slabs offacing material. On the opposite end and in opposed relationship to eachother are formed a pair of notches, each having spring fingers forgripping the re-entrant or inwardly turned edges of the U-shaped strutmember.

According to another embodiment the anchoring member or clip comprisesan extruded T-shaped member with the stem of the T-shaped member havingan enlarged end portion, which enlarged end portion is notched on eachside thereof for frictional engagement with the reentrant flangeportions of the U-shaped channel strut. The arms of the T-shaped membermay be provided with ridges which, when the lierfs of two abutting slabsare fitted thereover, assures a tight fitting of the arms of theT-shaped member in the kerfs of the slabs.

In still another modification, a U-shaped clip anchor is formed fromsheet metal. One leg of the clip anchor is bent over on itself to form aspring finger for insertion in the kerf of the slab of facing material.The other leg of the U-shaped clip is slotted so that a securing boltmay be placed prior to the positioning of the clip on the strut member.A flexible rib formed on each side of the slotted leg of the U-shapedclip anchor prevents dislodgment of the anchor from the securing bolt.

Gther objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear fromthe following description taken in connection with the drawing, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a cut-away of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3a is a modified clip part of assembly shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of a sheet metal anchoring clip accordingto the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a top view of an anchoring assembly including the anchoringclip shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the arrangement shown inFIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view of an extruded anchoring clip according tothe invention;

FIGURE 10 is a top view of the anchoring device shown in FIGURE 9 as itis used according to the invention;

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement shown in FIGURE10;

FIGURE 12 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the inventionshowing a clip anchor for a bedding or base joint;

FIGURE 13 is an exploded View of another embodiment of the inventionshowin a cap clip anchor, and

FIGURE 14- is a view of a marble slab wall constructed accordance withthe invention.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings a U-shaped metal strut20 is secured to a structural member S of the structure to which thefacing material A is to be applied by any suitable fastening means, asfor example, screws F. There will of course be a plurality of such strutmembers 29 secured to the structural members at desired intervals toprovide repeatin anchoring the two part clip points. Each U-shaped meta:strut may be formed, rolled or extruded to produce a channel-likesection with inwardly facing flanges or reentrant portions 27. A clipmember 21 is secured by cap screw 22 and locking nut 23 in abuttingrelation to the planar edges 24 of the strut member 20. Locking nut 23has raised edges 26 which fit over the inside edges of the re-entrantportions 27 of the legs of the strut member 2% and prevents turning ofthe locking nut 23.

One end 28 of clip member 21 is provided with a recessed projection orridge 29. A continuous U-shaped channel member 30 having a web portion31 and a kerf engaging short leg 32 and a. strut abutting long leg 33 issecured by the clip member 21 in abutting relation to the channel strut2t and supports the slab A when the kerf 34 of the slab is fitted withthe kerf engaging leg 32 of the channel member 30. There will, ofcourse, be a clip member at each intersection or anchoring point ofchannel member 39 with the struts 29. The long leg 33 of the channelmember 30 has a groove 36 which receives the recessed projection 29 ofthe clip member 21. It will be noted that the long leg 33 of the channelmember 36 is thicker than the short leg 32 so that the groove 36 may beformed in te long leg 33 without unduly weakening the support.

While the foregoing description of FIGURES 1 and 2 relate to a beddingor base channel anchoring arrangement, it will be obvious that this samearrangement may be used as a cap channel anchor for use when changing toanother type of material or at window sills, copings, etc. This may bedone by securing the clip member 21 in an upright position prior toinsertion of the channel member 30. The channel 30 is placed in the kerf34 of the slab and driven longitudinally until the recessedsprojection29 on the clip member 21 is seated within channel groove 36 to interlockthese parts. Of course, the width of recessed projection 29 will beslightly less than the width of channel groove 36 to avoid interferencewhen the channel 30 is driven into place.

The anchor shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 is an intermediate joint anchorand includes an H-shaped channel member 37 having a web 38 joining kerfengaging flange 39 and strut abutting flange 40. Strut abutting flange40 is secured in an abutting relationship to edges 24 of channel strut20 by means of a two part clip assembly. A first clip part 41 has formedon one end thereof a hook 42, the hook being formed with an anglesection 43, which angles downwardly and outwardly from the body portionof the clip part 41, a base 44 which extends in a direction normal tothe body of the clip part 41 and a third portion which is normal to thedirection of the base part 44 of the hook 42. As shown in FIGURE 5, clippart 41 is positioned inside of the channel and has laterally extendingflanges or wings 47 which are turned outwardly so as to engage theinside edges of re-entrant portions 27 of the strut 20. A threaded nut48, which may be integral with the clip part 47, receives a cap screw 49passing through a second clip part 50. Second clip part 59 is providedwith a bore 51 through which passes c ap screw 49 so that when cap screw49 is threadedly engaged with locking nut 48, the clip assembly issecured to the channel strut 20. It will be noted that second clip parthas laterally extending flanges or wings 52 which abut edges 24 of thestrut member 20. A cut out portion 55 on the lower edge of second clippart 50 fits over the upper portion of flange 49 so that when the capscrew 49 is tightened, the flange 40 of the H-shaped member 37 isclamped to strut 20.

Extension 53, which is formed by the cut-out 55 of the clip part 50extends substantially to the web portion 38 of the H-shaped channelmember 37, as does hook part 46 on clip part 41. By this arrangement, alarge area of frictional engagement is formed on the H-shaped channelmember. It will be noted that the flange 4%) of the H-shaped channelmember 37 is substantially completely enclosed by the two clip parts 41and 50 and a 4 portion 24 of the U-shaped channel strut 20. On the upperend of clip part 41 is formed a tab 54, which tab facilitates thepositioning of the clip part in strut 20.

It will also be noted that the web portion 38 of the H-shaped channelmember 37 gauges the joint thickness which joint may be filled withmortar M or other joint filling material.

As shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 clip part 50 is a solid block of metal.Preferably, however, clip part 50 may be fabricated from relativelyheavy gauge sheet metal such as shown in FIGURE 3a. The part 50 shown inFIGURE 3a may be stamped from sheet metal so that wings 52 are struck orbent inwardly to form a shoulder 56 which shoulder abuts the upper edgeof flange 40 on the H-shaped channel member 37. Likewise, inwardly benttab extension 57 is shaped so that its edges 58 engage the inner side ofre-entrant portions 27 on the legs of the U-shaped strut member 20.

In a similar fashion, the clip part 21 shown in FIGURE 2 may befabricated from sheet metal as shown in FIG- URE 3a with the downwardextension 53 turned inwardly to form an inset or recessed projectionsimilar to the recessed projection 29 shown in FIGURE 2.

The anchors shown in FIGURES 1 through 5 are particularly adapted forload bearing installations. The remaining embodiments of the inventionare more particularly adapted for non-load bearing installations. Asshown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, one such anchoring device comprises a sheetof metal, generaliy rectangular in shape, in which the body portion 60carries at one end thereof a pair of oppositely disposed kerf engagingspring fingers 61 and 62 respectively. Each kerf engaging spring fingercomprises a straight portion 63 which extends at right angles to thebody portion 60 and spring portion 64 which is bent inwardly withrespect to straight portion 63. The distance between the straightportion 63 and the furtherest portion of the spring element 64 issomewhat larger than the width of the kerf 34 formed in the facingmaterial. By this arrangement, when the spring fingers are pressed intothe kerf of the facing material, spring element 64 is moved toward thestraight portion 63 to provide a snug, relatively tight, frictional fitof the spring fingers in the kerf of the slab. On each side of the bodymember 60 there is formed a pair of notches 66 and 66, the portions ofthe body member 60 which are removed to form the notches 66 remainingattached to the body portion and struck either downwardly or upwardly toform long spring elements 67, 67 and short arms 68 and 68' whichcooperate to grip the re-entrant portions 27 of the strut member 20.

It will be noted that each spring element 67 is disposed on the side ofthe body member 60 as its corresponding kerf engaging spring finger 63.Consequently, the long finger 67 engages the inside edge of there-entrant portion of the U-shaped strut member at a point above theplane of the body member 60 and provides a stronger support or brace forthe body member. This clip element may be applied to the strut member 20by inserting the body member 60 at an oblique angle through the spacebetween the re-entrant portions 27 of the channel member and given atwisting movement into a horizontal plane.

It will also be noted that projections 68 forming part of the materialwhich is removed to form notches 66, is disposed at right angles with.respect to the body member 60. Thus, when the clip has been inserted oraffixed to the channel member 26, the projections 68 form a relativelylarge area of engagement with the flat portions 24 on the legs of thechannel strut 20.

The intermediate joint anchor clip shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 is formedfrom an extruded member, which is best seen in FIGURE 9. This clipanchor includes a web portion 70, kerf engaging flanges 71 and 72 on oneend of the web 76 to form a T-shaped element, and an enlarged end of theweb, said enlarged end having notches 73 and 74 for receiving andfrictionally engaging the reentrant portions 27 of channel strut 20.Flanges 71 and 72 are provided with raised ribs 76 and 77 respectivelywhich bear against one side of the walls forming the kerf 34 so as toassure a tight frictional engagement of said flange members with thekerf 34 of the slab of facing material A. It will be noted that theenlarged end of the web 70 is provided with a reduced transverse section78 and that the side of the notches are parallel to each other. By thisarrangement, the clip may be inserted at an oblique angle with respectto the horizontal and given a slight twist to lock it in place. Thesurfaces 79 and 80 forming walls of the notches 73 and 74 respectivelyfit flush with edge 24 of the legs of the channel strut 20, and, due toa slight resiliency in the re-entrant portions 27 of the channel strut20, the web 70 is frictionally held extended from the channel 20.

As explained in connection with the description of FIGURE 5, the webportion 70 gauges the thickness of the joint between the two contiguousportions of facing material which joint may be filled with joint fillingmaterial.

Referring now to FIGURE 12, there is shown a nonload bearing beddingclip comprising a U-shaped channel member which may be formed from sheetmetal. This clip comprises a web 81 and two right angle flanges 82 and83. Flange 82 is bent down upon itself to form a spring finger havingspring element 84 which operates in the same manner as spring element 64(described in connection with FIG. 6) which frictionally engages thewalls of the kerf in the periphery of the facing material. It will benoted that the flange 82 is somewhat shorter than the strut abuttingflange 83. Strut abutting flange 83 is provided with a hole throughwhich passes a cap nut 86, said cap nut being threadedly engaged with aspring nut assembly (not shown in FIG. 12) so as to secure the clip atany desired position along the channel strut 20. Such a spring nutassembly is shown in FIGURE 13 and comprises a nut 87 having grooves 88and 89 which receive the edges of the re-entrant portions 27, the spring90 resiliently holds the locking nut 87 at any desired position alongchannel strut 20. The long leg 83 of the sheet metal clip is secured bythe cap nut 86 in abutting relationship to the edges 24 of the channelstrut 20.

Referring now to FIGURE 13, a cap clip anchor, similar in configurationto the bedding clip anchor disclosed in FIGURE 12 with the exception ofthe modification shown to the long leg 83'. The long leg 83' in thisinstance is provided with an elongated slot 91 and the spring ribs 92.Since the facing material which is anchored by this clip arrangement isalready anchored by one of the intermediate joint clip anchors or abedding joint anchor the clip anchor shown in FIGURE 13 is installedafter the facing material has been so placed. Thus, it will be seen thatthe cap screw 86 moves into slot 91 when the clip is driven in place.Spring ribs 92 hold the clip in place by engagement With the cap screw86 after the clip has moved to a position where the kerf engaging flangeis seated within the kerf of the facing material.

FIG. 14 is an isometric View of wall assembly incorporating theinvention. The bed, or bottom anchor joint, at section VV, may be of aload bearing type as is illustrated in FIG. 2 or may be a nonloadbearing type, as illustrated in FIG. 12. The anchor joint taken on theline WW may be a load bearing intermediate anchor joint as illustratedin the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 or a nonload bearing intermediatejoint as is illustrated in FIGS. and 11. The cap, or top joint, takenalong the line T-T may be the assembly shown in FIG. 5 turned around sothat the channel 31 opens downwardly or may be the nonload bearing jointor clip illustrated in FIG. 13. Alternatively, the cap joint may be theclip member illustrated in FIG. 12 inverted. Likewise, the intermediatenonload bearing clip illustrated in FIG. 6

6 may be employed at the intermediate anchor joints taken along thelines WW and W' of FIG. 14.

Although there is shown and described preferred embodiments foranchoring facing materials, it will be understood that various othermodifications are feasible which still fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention and accordingly the invention is not intended to belimited except as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An anchoring system for slab facing materials having kerfs formed inthe peripheral edges thereof comprising a plurality of U-shaped channelstruts each having reentrant portions formed on the legs thereof, andsecured in spaced relation with respect to each other to structuralmembers forming the structure on which said slabs are to be anchored, aclip element having a generally rectangular body portion, a pair ofoppositely turned kerf engaging portions formed on the edges of one endof said body portion, each of said pair of oppo sitely turned kerfengaging projections including a spring tongue integral with saidrectangular body portion and deformable by the kerfs of a slab fittedover said projections, and means forming friction notches on theopposite end of said rectangular body portion for frictionally securingthe same to the re-entrant portions of said U- shaped channel strut saidmeans forming friction notches comprising a short arm integral with saidbody member and transversely struck from the plane thereof, a longspring arm element opposite said short arm and struck in the samedirection from said body member as said short arm, said long spring armelement and said short arm, cooperating to grip the re-entrant portionsof said U-shaped channel strut.

2. An anchoring system for slab facing materials having kerfs formed inthe peripheral edges thereof comprising a plurality of U-shaped strutseach having reentrant portions formed on the legs thereof, and securedin spaced relation with respect to each other to structural membersforming the structure to which said slabs are to be anchored, aplurality of extruded clip elements, each clip element comprising aT-shaped extrusion, the stem of said T-shaped extrusion remote from thearms of said T-shaped extrusion being thickened, said thickened portionhaving a transverse groove formed therein, said groove having a widthequal to the width of said reentrant portions of said U-shaped strutsand a pair of notches formed in the lateral edges of said groove forfrictional engagement with the re-entrant portions of the legs of saidchannel strut and the arms of said T-shaped extrusion being adapted tofit within the kerfs of a pair of facing slabs, each of the arms of saidT-shaped eX- trusion being provided with a raised ridge for securing atight frictional engagement of said arms in the kerfs of said slabs.

3. An anchor clip for supporting slab facing materials having a kerfformed in the peripheral edges thereof from a U-shaped channel struthaving re-entrant portions formed on the legs thereof, comprising, aU-shaped sheet of metal, one leg of said U-shaped sheet of metal beingturned inwardly upon itself to form a kerf-engaging spring finger,

the other leg of said U-shaped sheet metal being longer than saidkerf-engaging spring finger, said long leg of said U-shaped grip memberhaving an elongated slot intermediate the edges thereof,

a spring rib running along said long leg normal to the direction of saidelongated slot and intersecting said slot,

and means for securing the long leg of said clip anchor in abuttingrelation with the outside edges of said U-shaped channel strutcomprising a cap screw, means for securing said cap screw on said strutmemher so that the head thereof projects outwardly therefrom wherebywhen said U-shaped clip anchor is positioned in abutting relationshipwith the edges 7 of said U-shaped strut and said cap screw head iswithin said elongated slot, said spring rib resists removal thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Urbain 52-488Attwood 52710 X Smith 287-18935 X Yetter 52--492 FRANK L. ABBOTT,Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ANCHORING SYSTEM FOR SLAB FACING MATERIALS HAVING KERFS FORMED INTHE PERIPHERAL EDGES THEREOF COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF U-SHAPED CHANNELSTRUTS EACH HAVING RE-ENTRANT PORTIONS FORMED ON THE LEGS THEREOF, ANDSECURED IN SPACED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER TO STRUCTURALMEMBERS FORMING THE STRUCTURE ON WHICH SAID SLABS ARE TO BE ANCHORED, ACLIP ELEMENT HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR BODY PORTION, A PAIR OFOPPOSITELY TURNED KERF ENGAGING PORTIONS FORMED ON THE EDGES OF ONE ENDOF SAID BODY PORTION, EACH OF SAID PAIR OF OPPOSITELY TURNED KERFENGAGING PROJECTIONS INCLUDING A SPRING TONGUE INTEGRAL WITH SAIDRECTANGULAR BODY PORTION AND DEFORMABLE BY THE KERFS OF A SLAB FITTEDOVER SAID PROJECTIONS, AND MEANS FORMING FRICTION NOTCHES ON THEOPPOSITE END OF SAID RECTANGULAR BODY PORTION FOR FRICTIONALLY SECURINGTHE SAME TO THE RE-ENTRANT PORTIONS OF SAID USHAPED CHANNEL STRUT SAIDMEANS FORMING FRICTION NOTCHES COMPRISING A SHORT ARM INTEGRAL WITH SAIDBODY MEMBER AND TRANSVERSELY STRUCK FROM THE PLANE THEREOF, A LONGSPRING ARM ELEMENT OPPOSITE SAID SHORT ARM AND STRUCK IN THE SAMEDIRECTION FROM SAID BODY MEMBER AS SAID SHORT ARM, SAID LONG SPRING ARMELEMENT AND SAID SHORT ARM, COOPERATING TO GRIP THE RE-ENTRANT PORTIONSOF SAID U-SHAPED CHANNEL STRUT.